Photographic-background frame.



No. 64l,947. Patented Ian. 23, |900. w. c. FARHAND.

PHOTOGRAPHIE BACKGROUND FRAME.

(Application led May 20, 1899.)

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Patented Jan. 23, |900 W. C. FARRAND. PHOTOGRAPHIC BACKGROUND FRAME.

(Application filed May 20Y 1899.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

@iIzli--.HHH-HHUHHMWWMUuv wit/nassen 622m/ E Norms Pcrsks oo..Pnufuumo.. WASH UNITED STATES APATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM C. FARRAND, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.-, ASSIGNOR TO THE E.l da I-I. T.ANTHONY da COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

PHOTOG RAPHlC-BACKG ROUND FRAME.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 641,947, dated January23, 1900.

Application led May 20, 1899. Serial No. 717,543. (No model.)

T0 all whom t may concern.-

Beit known that I, WILLIAM C. FARRAND, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of the borough of Manhattan, city of New York, county andState of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement inPhotographers Backgrounds, of which the following is a specification,reference -being had to the accompanying drawings,in which- Figure l isa front elevation of the apparatus, all of the backgrounds being rolledup. Fig. 2 is an end elevation, the uppermost background being shown indotted lines distended or in position for use. Fig. 3 shows an enlargeddetail, partly in vertical section, of one end of one of thebackground-rollers and the mechanism which actuates and controls it.Fig. 4. shows a plan, partly in section, of certain details of thewinding and unwinding apparatus. Fig. 5 showsa detail in perspective ofone end of the clutch mechanism whereby the background-rollers areconnected with the winding-spindle. Fig. 6 is a detail, likewise inperspective, showing the end of the winding-spindle with which thedevice shown in Fig. 5 coacts.

A A are uprights for the support of the apparatus, which may be the sameas usually present in devices of this character.

B B are the feet, provided with casters or rollers C C. I prefer thatthe rollers should be quite large,so as to move smoothly over the floor.

D D are cross-bars to maintainv and give rigidity to the structure. Iordinarily prefer to use diagonal braces in addition to the braces D Dor without such braces D D. They are not illustrated for the purpose ofsimplifying the drawings. p

E is a cross-shaft j ournaled near its-ends in the uprights Aand havingat one end a handwheel F, preferably havinga handle G,where by it may beturned.

H H' are two sprocket-wheels keyed to the shaft E, with whichsprocket-chains I and I' engage, which at their upper ends pass oversprocket-wheels J and J', mounted upon axes K and K', set in the upperends of the uprights A.

L L, dro., are lugs forged upon` certain of the links in thesprocket-chains, and they are evenly spaced throughout the length ofboth of the sprocket-chains. Through these lugs pass studs M, (seen bestin Fig. 3,) which are held in place by nuts N, and on the inner ends ofthese studs there is a shouldered projection adapted to receive the eyeof a springsnap O, and the spring-snaps are confined upon the shoulderedends of the studs by a screw P and washer Q.

The rollers upon which the backgrounds are arranged are best shown inFig. 3 at' R, S being a reduced or shouldered projection therefrom, towhich is attached a plate T, having a projecting device U, which I callthe clutch7 device. It is made as shown best in Fig. 5-that is to say,it has a Iiatt-ened forwardly-projecting part V, from which eX- tends acylindrical finger VSL-and it is provided with a washer Y. The hook partof the snap O (marked Z, see Fig. 3) engages with this clutch devicebetween the washer Y and the plate T. The two ends of the rollers are ormay be constructed and provided with the devices above described.

a a are the backgrounds. They are made of canvas or equivalent material,as usual. One edge is attached in' any suitable manner, as by pasting ortacking, to the roller R, and the free edge is preferably provided witha series of hooks b b, the yhooks being so arranged as to have arearward presentation.

c is a brake-block adapted to slide vertically on suitable ways preparedfor it on the side of one of the uprights A, and it is cut out at itsupper side, as shown at d, and lmay be provided With aleather orequivalent friction-producing lining, so that when pressed against theperiphery of the hand-wheel F it will act as a brake thereon and preventthat wheel from turning.

e is a leaf-spring (other form of spring may be employed) rigidlysupported upon a block j", which is fastened to the side of the uprightA.

when the treadle is depressed the frictionblock c will be drawndownwardly, compressing the spring e, and the hand-wheel andsprocket-chains then be free to turn.

7c 7o are two bars pivoted at their lower ends .95 g is a treadlepivoted at h to the legs B and connected by a link 1l with the block c,so that IOO upon brackets Z, which project inwardly from the front sidesof the legs of the apparatus, and they are connected at their upper endsby a cross-bar m, which is rigidly fastened to them. The form of theupper ends of these bars 7s is best shown in Fig. 2-thatis to say, acurve is made in them, as at n, there being a relatively light extensiono beyond the curve, and the rod m is connected with these upright barsat about the curve. This form is given so that the bars will be offsetfrom the main uprights A a suitable distance to clear the lower rolls ofbackground, as shown best in Fig. 2. These bars 7c k, with the crossbarm, are adapted to be swung upon their pivots into a vertical positionsubstantially parallel with the main uprights A of the apparatus, andalso to assume a position, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2,practically parallel with the floor, their outer ends resting upon thedoor, and they are so wide apart thatthe edges of the rolls ofbackground are between the two bars 7c 7c, so that when the parts are inthe position shown in Fig. 2 the cross-bar m of the pivoted frame 7:, kwill rest inside of and yet adjacent to the depending edge p of thebackground, the hooks, which, as above stated, have a rearwardpresentation, being adapted to engage with and hook over the transversebar m when the frame 7c la is swung outwardly, as is clearly shown inFig. 2. When the frame composed of the pivoted bars k and cross-bar m isswung outwardly and the background unwound in a manner to be hereinafterdescribed, the bar m will first come iu contact with the rear side ofthe background, and then in its descent it will push the free edgeoutwardly from the apparatus, thus causing the hooks b b toautomatically engage with the cross-rod m as it reaches the edge of thebackground and be lowered gradually to the floor as it is unwound. Thisresults in a saving of much time and annoying work on the part of thephotographer to project and smooth out the backgrounds upon the ioor ofthe gallery. As is well known, the scenery has frequently to be changedin order to satisfy the whims of the sitters. Then the bars k are intheir upright position, the dimensions of the parts are such that theprojecting upper end o ordinarily rests against the shoulder shown at Sin Fig. 3. This, however, is not essential.

From the description thus far given it will be obvious that the numberof roller-supporting devices on the sprocket-chains-to wit, the lugs Land snap connections O-may be such as preferred. I ordinarily have fromeight to twelve sets, so that that number of separate rollers carryingbackgrounds of different characteristics may be employed. Obviously,however, the number may be such as preferred, and it is not necessarythat allv of these devices should be supplied with a roller. Ifrequently have but four or six backgrounds at anyone time upon theapparatus, although it may be adapted to carry a dozen or more.

It will also be seen that upon depressing the treadle g, therebyreleasing the braking action upon the hand-wheel F, and upon turning thesame by means of the handle G, the sprocket-chains will be set inmotion, carrying the series of background-rollers in endless processionpast the top sprocket-wheels, down the back side and under the lowersprocketwheels, presenting them upon the front of the apparatus, asdesired, and at the moment the pressure isremoved from the treadle thebrake will automatically lock the hand-wheel in its then position, sothat any desired background can be in a moment brought to the de siredlocation as high or as low as required. If desired to use a floor-groundas well as the background, upon lifting the desired roller to the properheight the pivoted frame k 7cm will in a very simple, expeditious, andconvenient manner project the background forwardly, so that a portion ofit rests upon the floor, and the angle of the background relative to aVertical line or, in other words, the sweep of the curve which itdescribes may be such as preferred, depending upon the degree to whichthe background selected is unwound.

Referring now to the means whereby the background is unwound, a is aframe or slideway adapted to slide up and down upon the right-hand mainupright A. It may slide upwardly as far as desired, but its downwardmovement is arrested by two stops b 1)',which may be pins or equivalentstops attached to the upright A. This slideway carries a boXc,pro videdwith journals d', in which is supported what I call the winding-spindlee. Upon this spindle is mounted a sprocket-wheel g', provided with twosplines f' f', which enter a groove h', made in the winding-spindle e'.j is the sprocket-chain,which passes over another sprocket-wheel71:,mounted upon a shaft l', turned by a crank m'. (See Fig. l.)

The winding-spindle e has free movement longitudinally through thejournals d d and is provided with two annular recesses Z and m, whichengage with a spring-latch n, actuated by a spring 0, so that when thespindle is pressed inwardly when engaged with the clutch on one of thebackground-rollers this latch n will hold it securely in that position,and, on the contrary, when the spindle is withdrawn into the positionshown in dotted lines in Fig. 3 the latch will then engage with theannular recess m, so that it will be held in its retracted position. TheVinner end of the winding-spindle is made in the form shown in Fig.G-that is to say, itis bifurcated-having two lateral prongs 1J and ahole q at the rear end of them, these parts coinciding substantiallywith the parts V and IV on the clutch at the end of the rollers.

The operation is simple. The unwinding devices are ordinarily in theirlowermost position-that is to say, resting upon the stops b. Thephotographer manipulates the shifting device, as already described,until the IOO IIO

roller containing the desired background is brought adjacent to thewinding spindle. Thereupon that roller is pushed slightly to the left,as shown in Fig. 3, (it will readily yield, because of the freeswingingaction afforded by the snap-catches O and the nonrigid character of thesprocket-chains I I,) so that the clutch U is entered into the end ofthe winding-spindle, which for the purpose of making this engagement isprojected to the left, as shown in Fig. 3, the latch u having beenreleased from the annular recess m". As soon as this engagement iseffected the latch is allowed to enter the annular recess Z, so as tohold the spindle in its then position. Thereupon the vertical locationof the roller is adjusted, the unwinding apparatus being elevated withthe roller by simply pushing it up by hand, or by exerting sufficientpower in turning the hand-wheel F the winding apparatus will be carriedbodily upward with the roller. I prefer, however, to assist thismovement by a slight lifting action exerted on the slideway a or uponthe box c. When the roller and the winding devices have attained thedesired elevation, then upon turning the crank m the roller will bewound or unwound, depending upon the direction in which the crank isturned. If a vertical background only is desired, then this crank willbe so turned as to unwind the roller until the lower edge of thebackground rests upon or is near the floor. If a Hoor-ground is alsodesired, then the crank m is turned until the backgroundisunwound, say,afoot or two. Thereupon the bars 7c k, with the cross-bar m, are swungoutwardly away from the machine until, as before stated, the hooks onthe lower edge of the background engage with the rod m, and then theunwinding or lowering operation being continued the background, carryingthe spreading or smoothing frame with it, will be gradually lowered tothe floor. In so doing the background will be carried out smoothly andevenly without wrinkles and without danger of being defaced or cracked,and after the free ends.of the bars lc k have reached the floor thecurve of the licor-ground and the background may be made such as desiredby additionally lowering or slackening the background. After theexposure has been made the apparatus may be quickly returned to itsoriginal position by turning the` crank m' in a reverse direction, whichwill wind up.

the background, at the same time lifting the frame 7c k and cross-bar m.When it has nearly attained its vertical` position, it may be by handtipped backwardly into the position shown in Fig. 2, and then byslightly unwinding the background again the hooks will disengage fromthe cross-bar m, when the winding-up operation may be completed. If thebackground selected is not acceptable either to the photographer or tothe sitter, it is a moments work only to disengage the winding apparatusfrom the roller and to again operate the shifting apparatus until thedesired background is brought into position.

It will be obvious to those who are familiar with this art that manymodiications may be made in practically every part of my apparatuswithout departing from the essentials thereof. I therefore do not limitmyself to the details of construction shown and described. It will alsobe apparent that the pivoted frame k lo and m for manipulating thefloor-ground need not be used, it being, however, a very desirable andconvenient adjunct to the apparatus, adapting it to gallery-workgenerally and avoiding much inconvenience,y

labor, and time for the photographer, and also avoiding injury to thebackgrounds. Under my invention the necessity for taking out rolls andputting lchem in a rack, as heretofore, is avoided. The liability toinjure the background and the annoyance of having to smooth it out whenemployed as a floor-ground are also avoided. Any desired verticaladjustment of the parts may be in a moment conveniently attained. Owingto the employment of spring-snaps or equivalent devices as a means ofconfining the rolls of background to the main sprocket-chains, there isno possibility of their escaping from proper coninement during therolling of the apparatus about the gallery-Hoor, so that the falling ofbackgrounds, which is frequent in other apparatus, is entirely obviated.Also during the rolling-up operation, when the door-ground extender orframe lo lo m is not employed, it may be more effectively done than byprevious apparatus known to me, because the operator stands in suchposition that he can with his left hand easily pullout the edge of thebackground to smooth wrinkles therein While turning the crank m with theright hand.

The advantages of the floor-ground extender have been already fullypointed out and the fact that the engagement and disengagement of thehooks with the cross-bar m is automatic and that during the winding-upoperation of the floor-ground the weight of the frame (bars k lo andcross-bar m) stretches the material, so that wrinkles are not apt tooccur.

Having described my invention, I claiml. The combination, in abackground-frame, of suitably supported and actuated sprocketchains,background-rollers supported upon said chains,a spring-actuated brakewhich controls said sprocket mechanism, and means to operate thebrake,for the purposes set forth.

2. In a background-frame the combination of suitably' supported andactuated sprocketchains, lugs on the chains for the support of rollers,backgrounds on the rollers, a frame pivoted to the background frameproper, adapted to engage with the free edge of the background and toproject the same forwardly and horizontally, and means to engage theedge of the background with said pivoted frame, for the purposes setforth.

IOO

IIO

3. The combination, in a background-frame, of suitably supported andactuated rollers, backgrounds on the rollers, a frame pivoted to theframe proper and adapted to project the background forwardly andhorizontally, and hooks upon the free edge of the background adapted toengage with said pivoted frame, for the purposes set forth.

4. The combination, in a background-frame, of suitably supported andactuated sprocketchains, lugs on the chains, rollers supported by saidlugs, backgrounds on the rollers, a spindle adapted to engage with theaxes of the rollers, a vertically-adjustable support for the spindle,and means to rotate said spindle, for the purposes set forth.

5. The combination, in a background-frame, of suitably supported andactuated sprocketchains, lugs on the chains, rollers supported by saidlugs, backgrounds on the rollers, a spindle adapted to engage with theaxes of the rollers, a vertically-adj ustable support for the spindle,means to rotate said spindle, and a frame pivoted to the main frame ofthe apparatus, adapted to engage with the free edge of the backgroundsand to project the same forwardly and horizontally, for the purposes setforth.

6. The combination, in a background-frame, of a series of rollerssupported at opposite sides of the machine upon movable endlesssupporting devices, backgrounds upon said rollers, means to move saiddevices, means to hold them in any desired position, a spindledetachably attachable to the axes of the rollers, means to rotate saidspindle, and a verticallyadjustable support for said spindle and themeans whereby it is rotated, for the purposes set forth.

7. The combination,in a background-frame, of suitably supported andactuated sprocketchains, lugs on the chains, pendent hooks looselyengaging with said lugs, rollers supported by said pendent hooks, andbackgrounds on the rollers, for the purposes set forth.

8. In a background-frame the combination of laterally-arrangedsprocket-chains, a handwheel for actuating the chains, aspring-controlled brake which engages with. the handwheel, pendent hooksattached loosely to the sprocket-chain, background-rollers supportedupon said hooks, a spindle detachably attachable to the aXes of saidrollers, means to rotate said spindle, and means to lock the spindle inposition when engaged with the axis of each roller, for the purposes setforth.

Signed at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York,this 17th day of May, A. D. 1899.

WILLIAM C. FARRAND.

Witnesses:

PHILLIPS ABBOTT, D. S. RITTERBAND.

